Alumni Spotlight: Chet Mason

SwingRX Golf Performance is proud to bring you this week's Front Row Feature.
For more information, visit https://SwingRXGolf.com.

- - -

When former Ohio Mr. Basketball Chet Mason first started his basketball career at Miami, there were times he wanted to leave.

"I get down to Oxford, and it was a totally different scenery than the inner city of Cleveland. I had that couple of times I wanted to go back home," Mason remembered. "Coach Coles said, 'No, you aren't going home. Trust me, this is going to help you more than it hurts you.'

"And he was absolutely right, because, without him coming to get me from the inner city of Cleveland and making me stay there at Miami, I don't know if I'd be the man that I am today."

The 2005 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-MAC honoree made a tremendous impact on the program, leading the RedHawks to a regular-season title and an NIT berth in his senior season. Chet Mason

"I rebounded a lot. I was able to score, I was able to assist, steal, and play D – I was an aggressive-minded player, so I always played really good defense," said Mason, who earned the nickname 'Chet the Jet' for his memorable style of play.

The versatile guard finished his career with 1,230 points, ranking 22nd in program history. Mason still ranks among Miami's top-10 all-time leaders in rebounds (806, sixth), steals (157, eighth), and career starts (117, third). Alongside Ron Harper, he is only one of two players to record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists and 150 steals in a career. In 2004-05, Mason served as team captain, was voted team MVP, and was named Miami Male Athlete of the Year. He was inducted into Miami Athletics' Hall of Fame in 2018.

But Chet Mason's accomplishments extend beyond the record books.

After graduation, Mason played abroad for more than a decade across Europe, part of the more than 100 different countries he's visited. But one of the favorite stops in his pro career came in 2007, when he represented his hometown as a guard for the NBA's Cavaliers.

"To be able to come out of that tunnel: growing up watching the Cavs and being a hometown kid, to be able to have that jersey on coming out that tunnel was just a surreal moment," Mason said. "It's like I was in awe."

Since his playing days ended, Mason has moved into coaching, including serving the last decade as a high school head coach. In 2019, he also received the opportunity to begin coaching with USA Basketball. Over the past two years, Mason has helped lead the U16 National Team (2023) and the U17 National Team (2024) to gold medals as an assistant.

Chet Mason

"USA Basketball is the standard," Mason said. "It's the top organization and the top brand in the universe…of all my other accomplishments, the gold medal has been the best."

Still, Mason said his passion for coaching goes further than the victories and trophies he's accumulated.

"I want to help young people, and so that's why I'm still where I'm at to this day," Mason explained. "With all of the different doors that open for me, higher than the high school level, I'm able to stay here because I know the importance of me being here to help these young boys try to become young men."

One of these young men is Antwone Woolfolk, a starting forward for this year's Miami team. Woolfolk is averaging 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds for the RedHawks and has started all 27 games for the Red and White since transferring from Rutgers last summer.

Miami head coach Travis Steele knew Woolfolk would be a good addition to the culture of his program.

"Chet coaches a lot like he was coached at Miami during his experiences here, and I think that's one of the reasons why we knew Antwone would do so well here," Steele said.

Mason believes coaching is about building character more than just teaching the X's and O's of the sport.

"I learned as a player under Coach Coles that everything is bigger than basketball," Mason commented. "The ball will stop bouncing one day. Ultimately, you've got to be a man; you've got to stand on your 10 toes. That's what I try to teach the kids that come through my program and [play] under me." Chet Mason Hall of Fame

Mason appreciates how Woolfolk and his Miami teammates continue to represent what Mason calls 'The Miami Way.'

"Grit. Grind. Punch your clock every day. No excuses. By any means necessary…get it done. We show up, and no matter what's going on… we're going to figure it out.

"I understand that because I lived it, so Antwone is living it now. We talk regularly, and he's having a good time while still being able to achieve the ultimate goal of getting his degree from Miami," said Mason, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Sport Studies and still proudly displays his diploma in his office.

As this year's Miami team looks ahead toward the MAC Tournament, Mason knows they will need to rely on grit and hard work to cut down the nets and advance to March Madness. After attending a win at Kent State in January, Mason had the chance to talk to the RedHawks in the locker room afterwards and share that reminder with Woolfolk and company.

"We see what they're doing now…and I know they're going to keep it up and keep playing hard and just keep doing the 'Miami way,'" said Mason.

According to Steele, Mason's message in the locker room resonated with his squad.
Chet Mason

"Miami's obviously had a ton of success in the past. You look at what it's been built on, and it's been built on competitiveness and toughness and grit. Those were hallmarks of Coach Hedric's teams, Coach Coles', Coach Sendek's…and we're trying to recreate that during my time here.

"We play for those who came before us, and Chet –and all the former players, former coaches, former managers— have built Miami over time, and they want to get it back to where it was," Steele added.

So when Miami takes the floor at Rocket Arena on March 13 to start its chase for the MAC Tournament crown, expect Chet 'The Jet' Mason to be in the stands.

Because the 2024-25 RedHawks not only have a current title to pursue…but a past legacy to uphold.

Find more Front Row Features at: MiamiRedHawks.com/FrontRowFeatures

The Miami University men's basketball team wraps up the regular season at Millett Hall on Friday, March 7 at 6 p.m. when Ball State comes to town. The game will air nationally on ESPNU, and complimentary tickets are available here with the promo code CELEBRATE. The RedHawks then open the MAC Tournament Thursday, March 13 in Cleveland, Ohio (opponent and game time TBD). Purchase your MAC Tournament tickets today!

Players Mentioned

Antwone Woolfolk

Related Videos